A Chameleon Kind of Religion (and others)

A Chameleon Kind of Religion (and others)

"So that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

Saving religion is not merely an occasional act - but a permanent habit, resulting from an internal principle.

Saving religion is a principle so fixed as to constitute a new moral nature; and so steadily operative, as to form an unchanging character.

A real Christian is a Christian always, everywhere, and in all companies. He carries his piety with him wherever he goes, as an integral part of himself. It is not like his clothes which may be continually altered, or varied to suit his situation, occupation, and company. He needs his piety everywhere, he love it everywhere, and is commanded to let it be seen everywhere.

But among most professors of Christianity, there is too much of a chameleon kind of religion, which takes its hue from surrounding objects. This is seen most conspicuously in the conduct of those who have a flexible, yielding, easy-going kind of piety - which accommodates itself to changing circumstances, by little sacrifices of principles and consistency.

~John Angell James~
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A Golden Image in the House!

It is quite evident that covetousness is indeed the sin of the church. In this wealthy age and country, there is imminent peril of professing Christians forgetting their high calling, and living only to get riches. We see them toiling and panting in pursuit of the golden object of ambition.

It is not the possession of wealth that we should dread; but the inordinate desire, the dishonest means, the undue love, and the covetous hoarding of it! Wealth justly obtained, and piously spent, is a blessing - not a curse.

I am quite aware, that it is difficult to have money and not love it. It is hard indeed to have a golden image in the house, and not worship it!

Wealth often produces the pride of life - so opposite to the humility and poverty of spirit, which is essential to the nature of true religion.

Wealth often generates a worldly-mindedness, which makes its possessor contented with seen and temporal things, and disposes him to mind only earthly things.

Wealth often leads to a prevalent feeling of independence, so unlike that habitual trust and reliance on God, which the Scriptures require.

Wealth often originates, and keeps up, both the care and perplexity of getting, and the anxiety of disposing; and thus exhausts the vigor as well as time, upon worldly objects - leaving the soul neglected, impoverished, and defrauded.

Wealth is the green and flowery mount from which many have slid down into the bottomless pit!

"But godliness with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food, shelter and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it,some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. Now you, man of God, run from these things; but pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness" (1 Tim. 6:6-11).

~John Angell James~